It's no secret I'm obsessed with fall. And yeah, yeah. It's my birthday season. Whatever. But that has nothing whatsoever to do with my obsession with the crisp air and the pretty red and yellow leaves. Okay? Really, though, I wish it was fall all year. But while I'm waiting for my favorite season to roll around, I can lust over items that get me in a fall kind of mood.

Fall is right around the corner, and something I need to get for this fall is new shoes. I never know what to wear in the fall for shoes, so I just end up wearing riding boots all the time. However, I'm planning on getting more shoes that I can wear in the fall for some diversity.

{one} riding boots
I'm obsessed with riding boots. They look great with a pair of leggings or a pair of jeans. I love wearing a cute sweater or shirt with them. I already have two pairs, brown and black, but I want a new pair. I don't think the brown ones will fit me this year (I had to squeeze into them last year because they were the last left in the store!), so that's an excuse to get a new pair. I'll just have to look around for a pair that I like!

{two} Hunter boots
Hunter boots are perfect for the fall because of the rain, wet ground, and possibly even snow! They're perfect for keeping your feet dry and adding a cute look to your outfit.

{three} moccasins
I'm dying to get a pair of moccasins this year. I got a pair for Christmas last year, but unfortunately, they were too big. I'm thinking of getting a pair of UGG moccasins because they're super comfortable. Moccasins are great for wearing with a pair of leggings.

{four} Sperry's/boat shoes
Believe it or not, I actually love wearing my Sperry's in the fall (or actually all year round for that matter... #CatholicSchoolGirlProblems). They look adorable with a pair of capris. I just suggest not wearing them if it's snowing (unless you wear a uniform like me!) because you could end up getting snow in them.

So, I already have riding boots, Hunter boots, and Sperry's. I'm just on the hunt to get a new pair of brown riding boots and moccasins!

i made a good decision
today. i have a few days of summer left before going back to teaching
{for my second year of teach for america},so after
soaking up some sun and lunch with a friend, i decided to make sour cream
chicken enchiladas and some rolo brownies. i had them waiting for husband when
he got home from work...very good decision and very happy husband! we ran a half
marathon yesterday and we are still recovering, so these hit the spot. our
friend came over & finished off the rest. guess they were good! this recipe
is so simple, but seriously we loved it and we'll be making it again
soon.

•sour
cream chicken enchiladas•

1
lb chicken breast, diced

1
tablespoon olive oil

8
flour tortillas

1
1/2 cups grated Mexican blend cheese, grated

1/4
cup butter

1/4
cup flour

1
(15 ounce) can chicken broth

1
cup sour cream

1 (4 ounce) can chopped
green chilies {optional}

directions

1.
Bake the chicken or cook it in a frypan with olive oil until chicken is just
done. If you want to bake it and shred it, follow my tips here.2.Divide cooked chicken evenly between 8
tortillas. Add 2 tablespoons of cheese to each tortilla.3.Roll enchiladas up and place seam-side
down in a lightly sprayed 9x13" baking dish.4.Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
Gradually stir in flour to make a thick base, stirring until it's bubbly.
Immediately stir whisk in some chicken broth a little bit at a time as it
thickens. Bring to boiling, stirring frequently.5. Remove from heat and stir in sour
cream as it gets creamy and thick. Pour the sauce evenly over
enchiladas.6. Top with the rest of the cheese {at
this point you can wrap it in saran wrap and freeze it for later} otherwise
bake at 400 F for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce near
edges of baking dish is bubbly.i
lightened these up with trader joe's fat free sour cream. next time i might even
substitute greek yogurt!

Hunter boots. Can't live with 'em, can't
live without 'em. It's been raining quite a bit here in NC so I threw these
boots on one cloudy (calling for rain) day on a trip to the ultimate in dinning
experience: chicken and waffles. But, as soon as we stated snapping these pics,
the sun came out and shined her glory all over us. I blame the Hunters or
course, they completely ruined my rainy day feeling and obviously jinxed me. I
immediately swapped them out for some gold flip flops to not look like a fool
walking around downtown. Has this ever happened to you in rain boots? By the
time I went to take them off, it was already so hot from the sun that I
literally has to wiggle it to get the dang things off my feet. It was a sight
let me tell you- one my husband gladly sat back and enjoyed.

On another
note, Im pairing up with the lovely Grace Lee today from Haute Couture to show you how we
both love our Hunters (when the weather is right anyway...). How adorable is her
trench+Hunter combo? She reminds me that I definitely need a new trench for fall
and maybe some yellow rubba boots as well!! Make sure you go check out her
outfit deets!

How
adorable is that little bee ring from Max and
Chloe? I am in love. This little guy has been going everywhere with me on my
finger.

This Summer truly has been a whirlwind for me. There have been so many wonderful changes and experiences that I can hardly stand it. However, it certainly caused my consistent blog posting to suffer a bit. On the bright side, I have discovered how much I enjoy doing more outfit posts (and basically pretending to be a model- fun fact, I was a child model for a brief moment, yes, I even still have my business cards from those days to prove it.) I have also discovered my love for Italian coffee, which may have turned into an addiction while in Rome.

As Summer is sadly coming to an end soon, I have caught myself reflecting on the past few months. I have to say, this Summer has been one of the best that I can remember. Filled with family, friends, traveling and croissants- what could possibly be better. I feel truly blessed and am very much looking forward to continuing on this balanced path I’ve found myself on these past few months.

In the words of Miss Hepburn herself "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls."Making yourself feel pretty is one of life's greatest gifts to women. I love, love, LOVE makeup. I like feeling pretty and accentuating my features. I like having people notice how nice my eyes look, or how pretty my complexion is. But I'm also a minimalist. Your natural beauty is what should always shine through. There is just something far more beautiful about a person if they bear their flaws, yet show off the things about them that they're proud of.

I'm a HUGE fan of BB Cream. Simply because it does so many good things for your face: protecting it, moisturizing it, covering up blemishes, and healing it from natural imperfections.

A little (I stress LITTLE) eyeliner is good for the face. It can really bring out a person's eyes and give them that extra boost of confidence when needed. I prefer pen just because it goes on smoother, but with a nice sharp pencil, a thin and precise line can be drawn just as well as a pen.

Mascara is tricky. You don't want it to clump or look to harsh (especially if you have fair skin and light hair). But the good news is that mascara comes in ALL colors and there's one just for you out there. I like Great Lash because it's relatively cheap and stays on all day!

The prettiest lips are those well nourished. Chapped lips are a pain in the butt and are unsightly at times (especially if you're also on acne meds that dry your skin out) But there are SOOO many good product to use for soft lips. EOS are awesome and are so easy to carry with you (and taste really good too!). Then, when the lips are healed, lip gloss can be applied. Sticky, ooey-gooey gloss can be a pain when it comes to having long hair. Trust me, I know. But new glosses/balms are unsticky and have a lovely tint to them.

By nature, I am not a morning person. Half of the battle is getting out from my cozy blankets, especially on rainy mornings. Because I know most mornings I don’t wake up to the cheerful chirping of birds a la Disney as rays of sunshine gently tickle me awake, I try to prep as much as possible the night before. Mornings always go much more smoothly when I do this and if I know I have my tote ready to go by the door, I don’t feel too guilty hitting the snooze button once…or twice.

My outfit is always the trickiest part of my morning prep. Full disclosure, I am an outfit repeater but I like to try to switch up my top & bottom combinations or add different jewelry to breathe life into those tried & true ensembles. But how do you prevent those frantic morning scrambles in the closet when you panic and think “I have nothing to wear!!” Trust me, you do. Deep breaths.Create A Calendar: I love my Wunderlist app on my iPhone for creating lists, I keep a list titled “Weekly Outfits.” On Sunday night as you catch up on Netflix, check out your weekly map. Are you going to a happy hour on Thursday? Is Friday date night? Oh look, you have a big meeting at work on Tuesday that you’ll need to wear a pantsuit (shudder) to. Note the events you have going on that week and determine what kinds of dress they dictate: business, business casual, romantic, etc.Lay ItOut: Now that you know how your week is shaping up, go to your closet. Pull the pantsuit (again, shudder) out of your closet for that important meeting and for happy hour, maybe you want to wear the simple shift that can go from work to evening. Grab the wedges to go with the shift but don’t forget the sandals for the happy hour. I lay my ensembles out on my bed one by one to see if the pieces actually look good together. Once they get final approval I…Put Them Up Front: I hang that week’s outfits at the front of my closet for easy access in the morning.

Of course, there are Tuesday mornings when I put on my outfit only to realize I’m really in the mood to wear my Thursday outfit and vice versa. Or maybe it’s started to rain so I want to pair my pink wellies with my outfit so I have to do a little switching. And there’s always the morning when a button falls off your oxford. But good news: when these emergencies happen, you have another outfit all ready to go!

Do you plan your outfits ahead of time? Or are you a morning fashionista?

When outfit planning I love combining black and white. The combination of black and white is so simple and classic. But, there's nothing wrong with adding a little statement color to a classic combo! When I received these Yosi Samra ballet flats from Shop Adorn I instantly pictured them with a black and white outfit. With so many B + W options in my closet I decided to pair them with three different looks! Not only are these shoes comfortable, they can be folded up and thrown into my bag! I know these flats are going to be perfect for walking home after a long night in heels!

Do you ever feel really un-photogenic? Like your smile in real life is a whole different story than in pictures? Trust me, I'm with ya. I feel like these days, people are snapping pictures non-stop. You get caught in your not so best moments and next thing you know, the picture is on social media for the whole world to see. A little scary, am I right?!

After researching a bit, I have come up with some helpful tips for looking your best in pictures!

:: Dress Accordingly :: If you know you will be going somewhere where pictures will be taken, wear things that you know look flattering on you. One color ensembles are great, like navy on navy and white on white are some of my favorites!

:: Say No To Below ::Never be photographed from below; it's the most unflattering angle AND it can make you look bigger than you actually are. Even though you usually can't control it, the most flattering angle is slightly above you. This way, your neck and torso are elongated which then makes you appear taller.

:: Turn Your Body :: Ever wonder why all the celebrities slightly turn themselves when being photographed? It's a more pleasing angle! Turn yourself a little bit sideways toward the camera, with one foot in front of the other. Next, point your toe to the camera and put your weight on your back foot.

:: Cover It Up :: If you are donning something that's a little tight or detailed around the middle, it could look bigger in photos, even if it is fab in person! Hold your bag right in front of the area to hide it in pictures.

Y'all also know how
passionate I am about fueling my body with the most nutritious foods.
Right?

Ok...for the most
part...anyways! ;)

Whatdya get when you
combine simple + healthy?

Well...if you read
the title of this post, you would know you get a Kale + Cranberry
Salad... and it's literally...as easy and delicious as it sounds.

5 years ago, you
could have handed me a bunch of kale and I would have never known what it was. I
would have tasted it and hated it and never wanted it again. In fact, you
probably couldn't have paid me to actually eat kale and pretend to like
it.

Fast forward to now.
Obviously...I know what kale is but more so, I've learned just how beneficial
kale is to your health and also, ways to actually enjoy it!

Excellent source of vitamins A ("A" for awesome for skin), C ("C" for
collagen-builder and immune booster) calcium (bone builder), carotene and lutein
(both excellent nutrients for the eyes and for reducing the risk of macular
degeneration).

LOADED with fiber. Think "regular". ;)

One of the most important foods to buy organic. Remember: the thinner the
skin, the more important to buy organic. For example, kale has no "skin"...you
eat it as is. Same with all greens. On the other hand, oranges and bananas both
have a thick skin that you don't eat. While it's always ideal to buy these
organic, well, I know how expensive that can be and for someone who doesn't have
an neverending bank account, I know that buying 100% organic 100% of the time is
sometimes impossible. Do what you can and don't kick yourself if you can't. (If
you learn one thing from me...I hope it's that you learn to always, always
purchase organic greens.)

Rinse your kale and
cut it into about 2 inch pieces. Toss the thick, veiny base of the stalks. Ain't
nobody got time fo' dat.

Find the largest bowl
in your house (seriously...my kale was so fluffy I thought I was going to have
to resort to using my bathtub as my mixing bowl) and combine all
ingredients.

If you're a fan of
lemon juice and/or sea salt (raises hand), feel free to add a little to your
mix. It's not completely necessary but sometimes I need a little somethin'
somethin' to lessen the taste of the olive oil. Lemon juice and sea salt do just
that!

Toss yo' salad and
just like that my friends...you have just made your very first Kale +
Cranberry Salad! Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving because,
afterall, who wants a hot salad?

Enjoy as a side dish
or if you're me, eat a ton of it for lunch with a side of fresh fruit because
you're too lazy to heat up your leftovers. ;)

One of my favorite parts of Fall is football season. I was a cheerleader from seventh grade to twelfth grade, so Thursday & Friday nights meant performing, which I absolutely loved. Once I got to college, it was a foreign concept to me to just sit in the stands and watch the game, but I love it all the same! At least once per game, I’ll have a chant pop into my head from my cheer days- for example, when the Aggies are having a hard time holding the offense, I’ll automatically think, “Sack that quarterback, defense ATTACK.” But don’t worry, I keep these things to myself.

Ever since Texas A&M entered the SEC, our gameday attire has drastically shifted from ultra-casual to ultra-chic, which I love! I had planned on sharing my gameday outfit from this past week, but it was 106 degrees at the game, so in the few photos I have, I’m sweating death and it’s not cute. Maybe next week!

However, such extreme conditions did get me thinking about what every girl should have handy on gameday. Over the past two football seasons, I’ve perfected the gameday bag and its necessary contents. Here you go!

1) Water- I’m not trying to be your mom or anything, but this is very important. Especially in Texas, the first few games are extremely hot, and you will want plenty of H2O, to stay hydrated! I would suggest taking two, and freezing one beforehand. No, it’s not the cutest accessory, but passing out isn’t the best way to spend half time, now is it?

2)Sunscreen-again, not trying to be your mom, but this is also very important. Only for day games, obviously. But really, I can’t tell you how many awkward sunburns I’ve seen after game weekends- I once got one on only one half of my face. Prevent this (and melanoma) with a liberal application of sunscreen on (at least) your face.

3)Crossbody bag- you want something that holds everything, but not something too heavy. You also want the option of being able to hold it throughout the game if you need to, if, for example, someone spills a drink in the stands, or it starts raining (heaven forbid) and you don’t want to place it on the ground. Of course there are many options, but my absolute favorite is the monogrammed crossbody from Marley Lilly.

There are so many color options that coordinate with many different gameday color schemes. Unfortunately, there’s no maroon, but I love the brown, black, and cream options! I don’t have one yet, but it’s definitely on my “to-buy” list!

4) Sunglasses- Pick a pair that looks good on your face shape and matches your outfit- black and brown are always wonderful options, and aviators go with literally everything. Throw them on when the sun is in your eyes (obvi.), or when you’re trying to hide the fact that it’s too hot and you were ready to leave last quarter.

5) Lipstick and lip balm- For some reason, one of the only places I wear bold lipstick is to football games. I guess that’s just the Southern belle in me! If you wear lipstick, tuck the tube inside your bag for touchups, in addition to a tube of lip balm. Something about being outside makes me feel like I need it, so I like to have it on hand!

6) Monogrammed Koozie- or not monogrammed, your choice. This is great for tailgating and all that WATER you’ll be drinking. I loathe carrying water bottles that are dripping with condensation, so this is a great solution for that problem! You can also always tell which drink is yours. My roommate got me this little cutie for my 21st, and I forgot it last week, but I’m looking forward to using it this week!

If you’re looking to add this to your gameday stash, check out Marley Lilly!

7)Game tickets- don’t leave these at home- that’s always a tragedy.

8)Raincoat- if you think it might rain, bring one! Most stadiums don’t allow umbrellas inside, so you don’t want to be a soaking wet kitten in your cutie gameday outfit! ALWAYS check the forecast before you go!

Hopefully this will help you get prepared for gameday this weekend! Writing this has gotten me all excited for Saturday in Kyle Field!

There are some items in this world that just NEED to be in a girl's wardrobe. They aren't simply the typical "LBD, navy blazer, black heels" necessities, but rather the not so average pieces that stay classy, yet feel young. Not that anyone needs to immediately rush out to get them, but I do recommend collecting them over a period of time.

The Monogrammed Life

Welcome to The Monogrammed Life, a fashion and lifestyle blog owned by Marleylilly - Monogrammed Gifts! Thanks for stopping by! We hope you'll stick around and find some inspiration here. Peace, love, and monograms!